For sale is an original 1927 PLAYER’S NAVY CUT CIGARETTES ADVERT that features a woman playing tennis and the iconic Player’s Navy Cut sailor logo. The image of the sailor was known as “Hero” because of the name on his hat band. Behind the sailor are two ships–the one on the left is thought to be HMS Britannia and the one on the right HMS Dreadnought or HMS Hero. Tobacco adverts frequently associated smoking as part of an active and healthy life style. This advert is professionally framed and matted. The ad measures 9 1/2 inches by 14 inches. The wood frame measures about 14 inches by 18 inches. A great display item for anyone tennis or tobacciana enthusiast.
In 1883, John Player & Sons, Nottingham, England introduced Navy Cut Tobacco as a brand of cigarettes. The brand became “Player’s Navy Cut” and was particularly popular in Britain and Germany in the late 19th century and early part of the 20th century. The packet featured the distinctive logo of a sailor in a ‘Navy Cut’ cap. The phrase “Navy Cut” originated from the habit of sailors taking a mixture of tobacco leaves and binding them with string or twine. The tobacco would then mature under pressure and the sailor could then dispense the tobacco by slicing off a “cut”.
